Stabilizing chin strap



Aug. 12, 1958 E. R. DYE EIAL STABILIZING cum STRAP 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 12. 1956 Edward R .Dge

Ronald gKcQWsKlL. W 7 (5m ATTORNEY Aug. 12, 1958 E. R. DYE ETAL 2,846,633

- STABILIZING CHIN STRAP Filed Oct. 12, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Edward fRDz e Ronald M BqlKowsfii BY 65m.

United States 2,846,683 Patented Aug. 12, 1958 STABHJZHIG CHIN STRAP Edward R. Dye, Grchard Park, and John M. Egly and Ronald M. Bykowshi, Kenmore, N. Y., assigners to the United fitates of America as represented by the Seere tary of the Army Application (Bctoher 12, 1956, Serial No. 615,730 16 Claims. (Ci. 2-3) The invention relates to chin straps for head covering, and more particularly head coverings in the nature of a protective helmet. The usual chin strap for such helmets is inadequate because it does not prevent the helmet from being tilted forwardly under the impact of a blow from the rear or above. In the past, attempts have been made to substitute a nape strap for the conventional chin strap. Such nape straps have the advantage that they prevent forward tilting of the hehnet shell when it is struck from the rear or above but include the obvious disadvantage that the helmet is susceptible of being tilted to the rear under impact of a blow from the front or above. It is clear that the difl'iculty cannot be solved except by the use of both nape and chin straps. However, such an arrangement is not only cumbersome but requires application to the helmet of two separate and distinct straps.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of this invention to provide a single stabilizing chin strap for a head covering which includes advantages of separate chin and nape straps.

A further object is to provide such a stabilizing chin strap which includes a chin engaging portion and bifurcated opposite ends which are connected to the head covering on opposite sides of the same and in longitudinally spaced relation.

A further object is to provide in combination with a stabilizing chin strap as described above, an improved sweatband for the head covering which includes means for vertically adjusting at least the rear portion thereof.

A further object is to provide an improved sweatband for a head covering.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the several forms of the invention, the several elements of each, in combinations and sub-combinations of such elements with each other and/or with ead covering and/or with a sweatband therefor, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing showing the invention and the following specification wherein the invention is described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is an elevational view of a head covering showing one species of the chain strap applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a front view of the chin strap, the head covering being shown in transverse vertical section.

Figure 3 is a rear View thereof, parts of the head covering being broken away.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the chin strap apart from the head covering.

Figure 5 is a view like Figure l but showing a modified form of the chin strap.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line 7 7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a view like Figure 1 but showing a still further modification of the invention.

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the ure 8.

Figure 10 is a perspective View of this species of the chin strap apart from the head covering.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the plane of the line 1111 of Figure 9.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts in all views, and referring at first to the species illustrated in Figures l4 inclusive, I3 desi nates generally a head covering which comprises a protective helmet. Helmet 13 includes a shell 14 having a transverse center of gravity 15 and a sweatband 16. The helmet 13 is held stabilized on the head of the wearer by a chin strap 17 which comprises a central chin engaging portion 18 which is provided with any suitable length adjusting means such as the tension-released buckle 19. The central portion 18 is provided with bifurcated opposite ends, each including a relatively short, vertical furcation 2i? and a longer furcation 21 which is rearwardly and upwardly directed. The furcations 29 include upper ends which are secured to the shell 14 forwardly of the center of gravity 15 by any suitable fastening means such as the rivets 22. Such rivets 22. may be located slightly above the transverse center of gravity 15 if desired.

The rearwardly and upwardly directed furcations 21 are crossed rearwardly of the sweatband 16. For con venience of location, they may be passed through any suitable keeper 23 which may be mounted on the rear surface of the sweatband in any suitable manner. If desired the connection with the sweatband may be omitted. The free ends of the furcations 21 are secured to opposite sides of the helmet shell 14 rearwardly of the center of gravity 15 by any suitable fastening means such as the rivets 24.

The above described arrangement combines in a single chin strap the best features of separate nape and chin straps. Thus, the vertical furcations anchor the helmet 13 against rearward tilting and their location forwardly of the center of gravity provides them with leverage to resist such tilting. In like manner the rearwardly and upwardly directed furcations 2.1 prevent forward tilting of the helmet l3 and obtain leverage from being anchored to the shell rearwardly of the center of gravity 15. By crossing the furcations 21, they cooperate with the sweatband 16 toprovide a pocket or cradle which receives the rear of the wearers head whereby to distribute the shock of blows from the rear.

In the species of Figure 5 there has been provided a chin strap 27 having a central chin engaging portion 23 which preferably includes the tension-released buckle 29.

species of Fig- It also is provided with two vertically directed furcations 3t? and two rearwardly and upwardly directed furcations 31. The upwardly directed furcations are secured to opposite sides of the helmet shell 14 by any suitable length adjusting means such as the buckles 32. In like manner, the ends of the rearwardly and upwardly directed furcations 31 cross each other rearwardly of the sweatband l5 and are secured to opposite sides of the shell 14 rearwardly of the center of gravity by any suitable length adjusting means such as the buckles 34. The buckles 32 and 34 are mounted on short straps 3' which are secured to the shell 14 by rivets or the like 36. In this form of the invention, the chin-engaging portion 28 is not adjustable for length but length adjustments are provided in each furcation 30 and 31. wise this species functions as does the species of Figures 1-4. Here the furcations 31 are not connected to the sweatband 16.

In thespecies of invention illustrated by Figures 8-11 inclusive, the helmet 43'includes the shell 44 having the transverse center of gravity 45. The shell 44 is secured on the wearers head by a sweatband 46 which may. be mounted in the shell' by a structure 70 corresponds substantially to that illustrated in the patent to Riddell, Patent'Nol 2,250,275. In like manner, the top of the mearers head may be spaced from the shell by a cradle 71 which may correspond substantially to one of'those illustrated in the patentto' Dye, Patent No. 2,679,046.

' Obviously, other sweatband mounts or cradles, are contemplated. In this form of the invention, the chin strap 47 includes a central chin engaging portion 48 having bifurcated opposite ends providing vertically directed furcations and rearwardly directed furcations 51. Any suitable break-away clasp 49 may be interposed in the chin engaging portion 48. The upper ends of the vertical furcations 50 are connected to buckles or the like 52 which are carried by straps 155 which are riveted to the shell 44 as at 56 forwardly of the center of gravity 45. The rear ends of the furcations 51 are connected 'by any suitable length adjusting means such as 'the buckles 54 which may be mounted on a base member 55. The base member 55 is provided with any suitable separate fastening 56 for connecting the same to a complementary fastening element 57 mounted on the sweatband 46 centrally and rearwardly thereof. The base 55 has secured thereto an upwardly directed strap 58 which is connected to any suitable length adjusting means such as the buckle 59 which in turn is carried' at the lowerend of a strap or the like 60 which is riveted to the shell 44 centrally of the back of the same inwardly thereof by the rivet or the like 61. In this form of the invention, it should he noted that the rear portion 62 of the sweatband 46 is not directly connected to the rear chordal element 63 of the sweatband mount 70 as are the side and front portions of the sweatband. Thus,.the rear portion 62 of the sweatband is free to move upwardly and downwardly for adjusting the same to the back of the wearers head. This adjustment is accomplished by loosening the'strap '58 in the buckle 59 and thereafter tightening the furcations 51 and the buckles 54 until the rear portion of the sweatband is positioned as desired. Thereafter, strap 58'is re-tightened in buckle 59.

This species of the invention differs from the first described species in that the rearwardly andupwardly directed furcations 51' of the chin strap do not cross but are secured together and to the sweatband att-he back of the shell 44. Also, such furcations 51 and the rear portion 62 of the sweatband'are vertically adjustably secured to the shell 44 by the means 58, 59, 60. Nevertheless, insofar as preventing rearward tilting of the shell 44 is concerned, the chin strap 47 functions in the same manner as do the previously described forms of the invention. Note too, that the intersection of the sweatband portion 62, furcations 51 and parts 55-60 inclusive form a shockabcorbing cradle for the back of the head.

It is apparent from the foregoing that all forms or species of the invention accomplish the primary objects of the invention without requiring separate and distinct nape and chin straps. Moreover, while there has been shown'and described what are now thought to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the same is susceptible of still other forms and expressions. Consequently, the invention is not to be considered as being limited to the particular structures shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. The combination with a protective helmet having a transverse axis defining a transverse center of gravity; of a stabilizing chin strap, said chip strap comprising a central chin-engaging portion and bifurcated opposite ends each having comparatively short and substantially 4 vertically directed furcation and a comparatively long rearwardly and upwardly directed furcation, meanss'eeuring said vertically directedfurcations to opposite sides of said helmet forwardly of said center of gravity, said rearwardly directed furcations crossing at the rear of said helmet and extending partially around the same inwardly thereof, and means securing said rearwardly directed furcations to 'op'posite'sides of said helmet rearwardly of said center of gravity.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said helmet includes a sweatband, a vertically disposed keeper loop on said sweatband rearwardly and centrally thereof, and said rearwardly directed furcations extending through said loop and crossing therein.

3. The combination with a protective helmet; of a stabilizing chin strap, said chin strap comprising a central chin-engaging section, and bifurcated opposite end sections each having a relatively short furcation and a relatively long furcation,' attaching means securing said short furcations to said helmet-inwardly thereof in laterally spaced and opposed relation above said chin-engaging section, said'long furcations extending rearwardly and crossing each other'inwardly of said helmet, said-long furcations having upwardly extending end portions, and means securing such end portions to said helmet in spaced and opposed relation rearwardly of said attaching means for said short furcations.

4. The combination of claim 3, there being a sweatband in said helmet, akeeper' loop on said sweatband outwardly thereof, and said long furcations extending.

through said loop and crossing therein.

5. The combination of claim 3, there being a sweatband in said helmetfsa id long furcations and sweatband all crossing at the same point, and keeper means at said point slidably connecting said long furcations and said sweatband together.

6. The combination with a protective helmet; of a stabilizing chin strap,'said chin'strap comprising a central chin-engaging section and bifurcated opposite end sections each having a relatively short furcation and a relatively long furcation, attaching means securing said short furcations to said helmet inwardly thereof in laterally spaced and opposed relation above said chin-engaging section, said long furcations extending rearwardly and upwardly inwardly of said helmet, said long furcations having end portions, means securing such end portions to said helmet rearwardly of said attaching means for said short furcation, said helmet including a sweatband, and said sweatband and long furcations including portions which intersect radially inwardly of said helmet to provide a cradle for t-he'rear of the wearers head.

7. The combination with a protective helmet; of a stabilizing chin strap, said chin strap comprising a central chin-engaging section, and bifurcated opposite end sections each having a relatively short furcation and a relatively long furcation, attaching means securing said short furcations to said helmet inwardly thereof in laterally spaced and opposed relation above said chin-engaging sect-ion, said long furcations extending rearwardly and upwardly and crossing each other inwardly of said helmet, said long furcations having end portions, means securing such end portions to said helmet rearwardly of said attaching means for said short furcations, and said long furcations being formed to provide a cradle for the back of the wearers head.

ends to said helmet rearwardly of said attaching means for said vertical furcations, and said sweatband and rear wardly directed furcations including portions which intersect in radially inwardly spaced relation to said helmet to provide a cradle for the rear of a wearers head.

9. The combination with a protective helmet having a transverse axis defining a transverse center of gravity; of a stabilizing chin strap, said chin strap comprising a central chin-engaging section and bifurcated opposite end sections each having a substantially vertically directed furcation and a rearwardly directed furcation, attaching means securing said vertically directed furcations to said helmet inwardly thereof in spaced and opposed relation forwardly of said axis, said rearwardly directed furcations also extending upwardly inwardly of said helmet, said rearwardly directed furcations having rear ends, means securing said rear ends to said helmet inwardly thereof rearwardly of said axis, there being a sweatband in said helmet, said sweatband having a vertically movable rear portion, means securing said rear ends of said rearwardly directed furcations to said rear portion of said sweatband to provide a cradle for the rear of a wearers head, and said means securing said rear ends of said rearwardly directed furcations to said helmet including means for adjusting said rear portion of said sweatband vertically.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein said sweatband includes a vertically movable rear portion, means connecting said rear ends of said rearwardly directed furcations together, means connecting such rear ends to said rear portion of said sweatband centrally of such portion to provide said cradle, and said means securing said furcation rear ends to said helmet including means for adjusting said rear portion of said sweatband vertically.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said means securing said rear ends of said rearwardly directed furcations to said helmet includes a flexible member.

12. The combination of claim 8, wherein said sweatband includes a vertically movable rear portion, means connecting said rear ends of said rearwardly directed furcations together, means connecting such rear ends to said rear portion of said sweatband centrally of such portion to provide said cradle, and said means securing said rear ends of said rearwardly directed furcations to said helmet including a buckle fixed to said helmet above said rear portion of said sweatband together with a strap engaging said buckle and extending upwardly from said rear portion of said sweatband.

13. The combination of claim 8, there being means for varying the length of said rearwardly directed furcations, said means securing said furcation rear ends to said helmet including strap means extending above said sweatband rear portion, means for varying the length of said strap means, and separable fastener means readily detachably connecting said furcation rear ends and said strap means to said sweatband rear portion centrally of the latter to provide said cradle.

14. The combination of claim 8, wherein said means securing said furcation rear ends to said helmet includes strap means extending above said sweatband rear portion,

means for varying the length of said strap means, and

separable fastener means readily detachably connecting said furcation rear ends and said strap means to said sweatband rear portion centrally of the latter to provide said cradle.

15. The combination of claim 8, wherein said sweatband includes a vertically movable rear portion, means connecting said furcation rear ends to said sweatband rear portion to provide furcation rear ends to said helmet including means for adjusting said cradle vertically.

16. The combination of claim 8, wherein said sweatband includes a rear portion, means connecting said furcation rear ends to said sweatband rear portion to provide said cradle, and said means securing said furcation rear ends to said helmet extending upwardly of said sweatband rear portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,769,176 Grancsay et al Nov. 6, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 235,796 Switzerland May 1, 1945 1,096,070 France Dec. 29, 1954 said cradle, and said means securing said 

